ZenLock vs Hitokokyu
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ZenLock
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ZenLock is an App Blocking App that *forcefully* stops the apps you overuse. ◆ Simple Flow ・Select addictive apps like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X, or games to block ・When you really need them, choose a temporary unlock time (15/30/60 minutes) → Unlocking requires passing a randomly generated 10-character challenge →→ This extra step makes you ask: “Do I really want this app badly enough to type it out?” ・Even while using the app, once the chosen time is up, it will be blocked again automatically → No more “I only meant 15 minutes on YouTube, but suddenly it’s been an hour…” ◆ Perfect for people who: ・Spend too much time on social media or video apps ・Struggle to stay focused on study or work because of their phone ・Lose sleep from late-night endless scrolling and regret it the next day ZenLock helps you change habits without relying on willpower. It’s ideal for anyone who feels guilty about wasted time, wants to secure focus for study, work, or side projects, or simply start a digital detox. ◆ Safe & Private ZenLock runs entirely on-device using iOS system features. No personal data is sent outside.
Hitokokyu
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No Screen Time permission needed. Hitokokyu puts a short pause between you and the apps you open without thinking. The moment you go to open Instagram or X, it asks you to take one breath first. Stopping the "I opened it before I knew it" habit doesn't take a hard block. It takes a few seconds of space. ■ As many apps as you want ・No limit on the number of target apps ・Social, video, news, and games — cover them all ・No "one app only" restriction ■ No Screen Time access ・Most app limiters ask for iOS Screen Time permission ・Hitokokyu runs on Shortcuts automations, so it never asks for it ・The app never learns what you use or for how long ■ Watch the times you turned back add up ・It counts every time you went to open an app and stopped ・The focus is on turning back, not on minutes saved ・See what time of day you reach for your phone on autopilot ・A weekly recap every Monday, which you can share as an image ■ A pause that doesn't wear off ・The more you choose "Open Anyway" in a day, the longer the pause gets ・Set a daily limit per app; past it, you type a phrase instead ・A different short prompt every time, or write your own ・Write down why you want to cut back, and see it when you pause ■ Use it without opening it ・Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets for today's turn-backs, rate, and streak ・Start a Focus Session from a widget or Control Center — you'll pause every time until it ends ・Turn on a Focus filter to pause every time during Work or any other Focus ・Grace periods and Focus Sessions count down on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island ■ Private by design ・Everything stays on your device. Nothing is sent anywhere ・No account, no ads, no data collection ■ One thing to know before you start ・You create one automation per target app in the Shortcuts app ・Hitokokyu walks you through it, step by step (about 30 seconds per app) ・That small setup is why you never have to hand over Screen Time access Before you open it, take one breath.
Screenshots
Verdict
ZenLock and Hitokokyu are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ZenLock ships an update every 5 days, Hitokokyu weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZenLock | Hitokokyu |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | kohei kishimoto | HIROMU MORISAKI |
In-app purchases
ZenLock
No in-app purchases
Hitokokyu
No in-app purchases









